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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: calf · date · press · hide · mouse · safe · shower · stand

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. stand — to bear
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. press — to push
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — a publisher
  19. shower — rain
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. shower — to wash
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. date — the fruit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com